Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-05
HYPOCRlCY UNM ED.
CLEVELAND's RECORD m RELATION
TO PENSIONS,
Now He Has Knitted Union Veterans Amid
Misleading Shrieks for civil Service
heform--A scathiug Arraignment
of the Presidents Conduct.
Washington Cor. of the Boston Traveller. i

washington Cor. of the Boston Traveller. ]
The veterans who fought for the preserva-
zion of the Union are not likely to he misled
by the claims of President Cleveland's sup
porters that the record of his administration
shows that he is the real friend of the sol
Sler. The administration which has found
time between its shrieSs for civil service
reform to fill over AZ, 600 post Offices with
Democrats out of possible 80, 900 inside of
two years which has been compelled to
acknowledge three extensive defalcations of
its officers within many weeks; which
ruined that prince of American shp-build-
-ers, John Roach, and eventually drove him
into his grave; which calls for bids for the
building OF new navy and then calmly
sets aside the plans of Americans and makes
the award to an English firm of no reputa-
ton as constructors of war ships and whose
specifications have been found to be so am
hguOus that even the secretary of the navy
is in doubt whether or no they will not prove
a total loss to the government; which cur
toils the necessary postal expenses Of the
government; which is the parent and de
fender of the Pan Electric swindle: which
is the author of the attempt t. return the
Confederate battle-hags in violation of law:
which is headed by the first President who
aever recognized in his official capacity the
existence of the Confederate government;
which suffers the rights of American fisher
men to be trampled upon without muir
mur, will hardly sail into power again in
1888 upon the record of a President who
boasts that he works in his shirt sleeves
from : am to II pm, doing mere clerical
work. makes a few speeches in various parts
Of New York and devotes the remainder of
his time in scolding the newspapers and in
trying to originate some new scheme by
which he can keep the disabled soldiers and
sailors of the late war from enjoying their
richly earned pensions
So much has been said in reference to the
so-called animus of the Grand Army of the
Republic towards Mr.. Cleveland, coupled
with the claim that he vas only doing his
duty in vetoing the numerous cases which
were passed by the 49th Congress, that it is
only fiar 10 take up few sample cases and
show that the President has no real svmpa-
shy with the soldiers. The President. it
viii be noticed in every case relies entirely
upon the records of the pension office. No
general law could be framed that would
cover the case of every veteran deserving
a pension. The disasters of war bring about
thousands of complications which it is i'm
possible to put under one general classified
ton in the statute books of the country
But this is not the strongest point to be
made against the Presidents action in call
ing in the assistance of the pension office in
his effort to hound the boys in blue The
Constitution of the United States gives
every citizen the right of petition to the
Senate and House of Representatives The
humblest citizen can be heard and his
t,sn'" 'nele a''J"s'co WIN the cooperation
u rho ie'i'e"'. anu Ill certain event
, .1o"o 'i' 'ioi, ~ oa'e nc Is uiap'e W
~, ~ any o'hei iiia,iher. res.
Wv ~ ~ W ""'o ioH' Sish' vi
10y ~ e''"e iae,
i''' ~ am " nave peeii 10 MAKE
"''n we pension oihce-a
mere ou,e',' Vi 'he INFERIOR department.
NV wan VI. anu Vi LIS par ~ lriehus rehueI
1lo a''oi Vi Ing ,esS piactlcaily nun ana
'oiu -,o one WIN uehy pu' that ne mas had
IN Wv ' ; W '.,eei ~ the .iaii,i-
'n ,s' anu Nv 'a9 III pio'eu 'heii all Amour
e. 'I pna "ni' n"I never oeeh referred 10 oy
49,. e' '|t - '.i'V III 'i'e caseo vi very
80 iuiii1oi Vi pension piiis important
~ AiN' WIN .ne ooiiiih'-
p"" VI, p'e'eii'ei eroaily, as ID hearings De-
o1,ei Voniiii',ees upon an Puohc ques-
..olie "llon coiiie before legislative bodies
'ni oi,eh uho appiicah. was present WIN MS
Paipapie uiSapiillies' Inns evidence was not
,'i " 'h1 eNeou'iNe, ao leasu WITHOUT
l,o "'Aihs' anu never mas peeh III possession
- One Peneioii oiiice' consequently III nearly
o"'o .ne 'oiisressioiai statements
' upon stronger proofs thaH the ma
ii " iao'a "i,ich 'ne ITesluehV sets up IN
"IS ''s"Ppro'a's vi 'he DIS
THE CASE OF HARRIET ,wELCH
pros;aor. 61o,.oIo,,, o,., II.
o., that a., h'ir i, ',' ~ MS ,e.o ~
z,1a s,nd daad ,,,'nn ..iI,.aah ~. ali "lis